Monday, December 27, 2010

The first thing that everyone remembers on hearing the name Avvaiyar is Aathichudi. Aathichudi is said to have been written by the later Avvaiyar. Aathichudi stands as a crown for tha works of Avvaiyar. Its simplicity and the moral values it inculcates has a wide acceptance among people. It is so simple that is even taught to kids just out of kindergarten, and even used by people as quotes during their ordinary day to day talks or speeches.

Aathichudi has 109 verses explaining the morals. The beauty is that it is organized in such a way that each verse is in the order of the vowels (Uyir Ezhuthu), consonants (Mei Ezhuthu) of the Tamil alphabets and the combinant alphabets (Uyir Mei Ezhuthu).அறம் செய விரும்பு
Aram seyya virumbuDesire doing righteous deeds
ஆறுவது சினம்
Aaruvadhu SinamAnger is to be controlled
இயல்வது கரவேல்
Iyalvadhu KaravaelHelp others in whatever ways you can

The name Aathichudi is because of the head verse is in praise of Lord Shiva and Lord Ganapathy, who is adorned with the Aathi flowers.ஆத்திசூடி அமர்ந்த தேவனை
ஏத்தி ஏத்தி தொழுவோமே

Aathichudi Amarndha Devanai
Yaethi Yaethi thozuvomae

meaning, we will praise the The God (Lord Vinayaka) who sits in the lap of the Lord (Lord Shiva) who wears the Aathi flowers

The simplicity of these verses are not only easy to comprehend but also easy to remember. Very easy for learning kids, that they remember through out their life.

Another work, the Kondrai vendhan, is also by the later Avvaiyar, which is similar to the Aathichudi in many respects. The same one-liner style, along with the order of the alphabets makes it easy to read and remember too. This is praise of Lord Shiva, who is adorned with the Kondrai flowers, and Lord Vinayaka. Usually all Tamil poems being with a song that is in praise of the poet's favourite God. This verse is called the Kadavul Vaazhthu. Now, the verses from Kondrai Vendhan.கொன்றை வேந்தன் செல்வன் அடியினை
என்றும் ஏத்தி தொழுவோம் யாமே

Kondrai Vendhan Selvan Adiyinai
Endrum Yaethi Thozhuvom YaamaeWe will ever worship and praise the Son (Lord Vinayaka) of the Lord (Lord Shiva) who wears the Kondrai flowers.அன்னையும் பிதாவும் முன்னறி தெய்வம்
Annaiyum Pidhavum Munnari DheivamThe mother and the father are the Gods to be realised firstஆலயம் சென்றடல் சாலவும் நன்று
Aalayam Sendridal Saalavum NandruIt is good and noble to worship the God in templesஇல்லறம் அல்லது நல்லறம் அன்று
Illaram Alladhu Nallaram AndruIt is ignoble to not follow a peaceful marriageஈயார் தேட்டை தீயார் கொள்வர்
Eeyaar Thaetai Theeyaar KollvarThe belongings of the miserly will be plundered by the evil-mindedஉண்டி சுருங்குதல் பெண்டிருக்கு அழகு
Undi Surungudhal Pendirukku AzhaguReducing the quantity of food intake, by women is good for themஊருடன் பகைக்கின் வேருடன் கெடும்
Oorudan Pagaikkin Verudan KedumHostility with the society/country will destroy everything one has right from the rootஎண்ணும் எழுத்தும் கண்ணென தகும்
Ennum Ezhuthum Kannena ThagumEducation and knowledge is like the eye for everyoneஏவா மக்கள் மூவா மருந்து
Yaeva Makkal Moova MarundhuChildren who do the right things without the parents' guidance are like curative medicineஐயம் புகினும் செய்வன செய்
Aiyyam Puginum Seivana SeiEven under impecuniousness do your dutiesஒருவனை பற்றி ஓரகத்து இரு
Oruvanai Pattri Oragathu IruMarry one and be loyal the spouseஓதலின் நன்றே வேதியர்க்கு ஒழுக்கம்
Odhalin Nandrae Vedhiyarkku OzhukkamDiscipline is more important to a priest than uttering the sacred hymnsஔவியம் பேசுதல் ஆக்கத்திற்கு அழிவு
Auviyam Pesudhal Aakkathirkku AzhivuGossiping is destructive to one's fameஅஃகமும் காசும் சிக்கென தேடு
Akkamum Kaasum Sikkena ThaeduEarn cultivation lands and the money soon in your life

The beauty of these verses are their simplicity and the greatness of the values they inculcate in such curtness. Moreover, all of these are easy to remember as they have been composed in the order of the Tamil Alphabets, that one can easily related to these verses based on the alphabets.

Children and kids find it very easy to take it by heart, also explaining these to them does not take much effort as they are easily understood.

I will try to post the meaning of the other verses too in the upcoming posts. The complete verses can be downloaded here.

There are more fascinating songs by Avvaiyar that served as technological insights to great construction feats like the Brahadeeshwara Temple at Thanjavur. We will see those in the upcoming posts.